Academy › Certificate Courses › Art Directing, Costume & Make Up
Art Directing, Costume & Make Up
Course Overview
Course Objective
Students will gain a foundation in art direction principles and practices, as well as the basic skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the film and television industry — covering set design, costume, makeup, and the visual storytelling craft that ties them together.
What You'll Learn
Set Design
Understand principles and practices of set design in film and television production
Apply set design elements — colour, texture, lighting, and space — to create cohesive and effective sets
Analyse and critique set designs across film and television productions
Costume Design
Understand principles and practices of costume design in film and television production
Apply costume design elements — character development, period, and style — to create effective costumes
Makeup
Understand principles and practices of makeup for film and television production
Apply makeup techniques to create effective character looks and analyse makeup designs in professional productions
How You're Assessed
Assessment System
Formative Assessment
40%Quizzes & tests — theoretical concepts and principles
20%Practical exercises — set design, costume, makeup & special effects
10%Class participation — discussions, critiques & activities
10%Summative Assessment
60%Final project — comprehensive art direction project
30%Midterm project — art direction principles & practices
15%Final presentation & critique — present and defend final project
15%Attendance: Given the intensive nature of this course, unapproved absences may negatively impact your academic performance and final grade. Please notify your instructor in advance if you need to miss a class.
20 Weeks · 1 Semester
Course Curriculum
Six months spanning art direction fundamentals, set design, costume, makeup, and a full cross-department film production.
Theory
- ›Introduction to art direction principles and practices
- ›Understanding the role of an art director in film and television production
- ›Art direction and storytelling
Practical
- ›Create a digital mood board for a short film or scene using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
- ›Research and analyse art direction in different films and productions
Theory
- ›Introduction to set design and set dressing principles and practices
- ›Understanding the role of a production designer and set dresser in film and television
- ›Set design and set dressing techniques
Practical
- ›Create a digital set design for a short film or scene using SketchUp or Autodesk Revit
- ›Create a set dressing plan using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
Theory
- ›Introduction to costume design principles and practices
- ›Understanding the role of costumes in character development
- ›Costume design and storytelling
Practical
- ›Create digital costume designs for a character using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
- ›Research and analyse costume design in different films and productions
Theory
- ›Introduction to makeup principles and practices for film and television
- ›Understanding the role of makeup in character development
- ›Makeup and storytelling
Practical
- ›Apply makeup to create a character look using basic makeup supplies
- ›Research and analyse makeup design in different films and productions
Cross-Department Collaboration
Meet the team assigned to the project. Break down the script and discuss all creative issues pertaining to Art Direction — including set requirements, costume needs, and makeup design considerations for each scene.
Pre-Production — 5 Min Project
Pre-production on the 5-minute project with the assigned team. Review and apply all art direction, set design, costume design, and makeup principles and practices in preparation for the shoot.
On-Set Production
Production of the 5-minute project in association with all departments. Art direction students take full responsibility for the visual world of the film — sets, costumes, and makeup — working alongside peers from Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Sound, and Producing.
Post-Production Work
Students work on the project in post-production, reviewing footage for art direction continuity and preparing materials for the final presentation and critique.
Debrief & Reflection
View all final projects and discuss the successes and challenges of the video shoot across teams.
- ›What went well — smooth coordination, effective communication, creative ideas
- ›What didn't go as planned — technical issues, scheduling conflicts, creative differences
- ›Team feedback across Directing & Camera, Sound, and Production teams
- ›Lessons learned — identify areas for improvement and share best practices
Ready to Start?
Enrol in Art Directing, Costume & Make Up
Take the first step toward building the visual world of film and television. Contact our admissions team to learn more about intake dates and enrolment requirements.